First Nations leaders in northern Ontario say tariffs violate treaty rights, demand seat at table

First Nations leaders in northern Ontario are pushing back against American and Canadian tariffs, arguing that these trade barriers ignore their treaty rights and centuries-old trade routes. 

The Robinson Huron Waawiindamaagewin treaty group says tariffs imposed by both governments should not apply to the 21 First Nations within the Robinson Huron Treaty territory and is calling for recognition of their long-standing economic independence.

Lake Huron Regional Chief Scott McLeod feels First Nations are being shut out of critical discussions that impact their economies, despite having well-established trade networks that predate Canada and the United States.

"There has been zero dialogue with First Nations on this issue both from a provincial and federal voice," said McLeod, the former chief of Nipissing First Nation. 

"We're not even on their radar when these talks happen, when we should be at those tables with our treaty partners, having those conversations."

Rodney Nahwegahbow, chief of Whitefish River First Nation said the provincial and federal governments are failing to recognize First Nations as "rights holders" rather than "stakeholders" in decisions affecting their lands and resources.

"We are going to assert our rights in any decisions, policies or otherwise affecting our land. So to put it bluntly, that includes all these possible tariffs and of course, our treaty rights," he said. 

First Nations have traded goods across what is now the Canada-U.S. border for centuries, moving items such as leather, crafts, tobacco and traditional medicines.

McLeod points to the Jay Treaty of 1794, which recognized Indigenous rights to freely move and trade across the border — though Canada has never ratified it.

"What we do have on our side of the Canadian border is the pre-Confederation and post-Confederation treaties that happened, which mostly deal with the resources in our territories," he said. "That adds another layer of complication to any proposed tariffs."

He says treaties, including the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850, established a relationship of resource revenue sharing and agreed to share the land in exchange for annual payments.

Since the treaty's signing, northeastern Ontario has produced one of the largest nickel mining operations in the world, alongside historic copper, uranium, lumber and fishing industries.

"Our traditional territories here in Robinson Huron, are really being exploited," said Nahwegahbow. 

In response to tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has imposed a 25 per cent tariff on all electricity exports and threatened to cut off America's nickel supply, should the trade war continue.